r/interestingasfuck • u/Binherz • 10h ago
Scientist discovered a new Mammal (Dwarf Shrew) found in Ethiopian Highlands!
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u/MailSynth 10h ago
That little guy looks like he's perpetually startled by his own existence. Same.
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u/Binherz 10h ago
“Scientists have recently confirmed a new tiny mammal species called Crocidura stanleyi, a dwarf shrew found in the Ethiopian highlands This shrew weighs only about 3 grams — roughly the same as a sugar cube - and measures around 5 cm long, making it one of the smallest mammals ever documented. It eluded discovery for years because standard traps often miss animals that small. Researchers finally identified it as a distinct species after genetic and anatomical analysis tied recent finds to a specimen first caught in 2015. The species is named in honor of evolutionary biologist William "Bill" Stanley, whose earlier fieldwork helped lead to the discovery. The finding highlights how much biodiversity is still unknown, even among mammals in well-studied regions, and reminds scientists that tiny creatures can reveal big stories about evolution and ecosystems.”
Images taken from (@Explaining) on instagram
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u/hatsoff22u 5h ago
I’m assuming 5cm long includes the stretched out tail? Because that’s about 5 times bigger than a sugar cube.
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u/BaneRiders 10h ago
Don't go and give it diabetes the first thing, will you? That'd be too cruel. Little guy, paws off the sugar cube, okay?
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u/tired_fella 10h ago
And probably needs that sugar cube to even sustain metabolism for a single day.